SERVING HUMANITY IS A VIRTUE
The devastating earthquake of Oct-2015 badly affected district Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Upper Dir being one of the rural and backward districts of KPK with hilly and mountainous terrain and high ratio of poverty has received irreparable loses. Coping with the negative impacts of the disaster with their own means was not possible for the communities due to visible poverty and access to basic facilities. Government, UN agencies, Humanitarian and civil society organizations started their efforts for mitigating the suffering of the affected communities in different sectors and areas.
World Vision International- Pakistan launched its interventions (in collaboration with its partnet Muslim Hands) through provision of Primary Health Care services and Non-Food essential household’s Items provisions to minimize the sufferings of the earthquake affected population. One of the targeted area of intervention includes Kair Dara, a small valley in UC Bibiyoor located on almost one and half hour distance from the District Head Quarter hospital with bumpy and uneven road. The residents did not have access to basic health services because of rare transportation and unaffordable fee for getting medical treatment due to poverty. WV & Muslim Hands team soon after necessary coordination with line departments, visited the area and observed that due to no access to health services, severe cold and harsh weather conditions, children, women, elderly aged and all age groups are suffering of throat infection, flu, fever and scabies etc and felt the immediate need for health services. Therefore, keeping in view suffering of the affected communities medical camps were executed. Because of its location and need, team conducted visits to the valley to gather basic information and make ground arrangements for medical camps.
Resposne team with its well equipped mobile health units and qualified team of doctors and paramedics, started delivery of the services on three different locations where large number of patients availed free health services and medicines.
Muhammad Azam khan is a 67 years old man, lives in village Mian Banda Union Council Bibyoor ddistrict Upper Dir. He and her wife are living with their married son who is an unskilled daily wager having low income. Rest of the two sons are also married and living elsewhere with their families. Being elderly aged Muhammad Azam is dependent on his son.
He reported that I was suffering from eye infection and my wife, Bibi Zakheena with high blood pressure and heart problem. He said “My house got damages in the earthquake. I am dependant on my son and we could not economically afford to go to hospital, pay fee and buy medicine. We received treatment with free medicines and after use as advised my eye infection recovered for which I and my wife are thankful”
He further added, “I cannot express how much was I worried, a free medical camp in our village was blessing in disguise for me and all the villagers in need”.